Homes For Sale in East Tennessee

Your East Tennessee Real Estate Expert(s)

I’m Katelyn Warren, a local market specialist in East Tennessee - covering Knoxville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and other nearby communities. I hold ABR, SRS, PSA, and MRP designations and work daily with buyers and sellers focused on lake access, mountain views, and short-term rental potential. I track active and off-market interest, coordinate inspections and title timelines, and pull recent comparables for cabins, lake homes, or suburban resales on request.

East Tennessee Real Estate Market Insights

• Median Sale Price: $319,000
• Average Days on Market (DOM): 57 days
• Months of Supply: 3.02 months
• Home Price Appreciation Forecast: +2.9% for 2025

Steady appreciation and a mid-range DOM give buyers room to compare options, while sellers still capture premiums for well-presented lakefront homes and upgraded mountain cabins. Plan to tour new listings quickly, ideally within the first week, and watch for price reductions in thin-inventory pockets where motivated sellers adjust to the market.

Living in East Tennessee

Geography drives lifestyle in East Tennessee. Great Smoky Mountains National Park anchors strong outdoor demand and pulls some buyers toward trail-access properties, while the Tennessee River corridor supports larger lots and lake-adjacent living. Those differences shape commute times, insurance considerations, and how quickly homes move. Major corridors and proximity to McGhee Tyson Airport change how properties trade; remote mountain properties behave very differently from homes near the region’s employment centres.

Local employers such as the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) support steady hiring and underpin rental demand, creating a mix of second-home buyers, investors, and professionals who need a reasonable commute to Knoxville and other hubs.

East Tennessee Local Highlights & Attractions

Locals enjoy a wide mix of things to do in East Tennessee, from mountain trails to major events:

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Primary regional outdoor draw, with heavy visitor traffic in summer and autumn.
• Dollywood (Pigeon Forge): Major theme-park demand driver and a magnet for short-term rentals.
• Tennessee Aquarium (Chattanooga): Riverfront centrepiece that supports downtown rental interest.
• Market Square (Knoxville): Walkable downtown plaza with restaurants and a farmers’ market; nearby condos and lofts attract buyers who want pedestrian access.
• Bristol Motor Speedway: Event-driven demand near Bristol for short-term stays during race weeks.
• Birthplace of Country Music Museum (Bristol): Cultural programming that attracts visitors and occasional event rentals.
• Ijams Nature Center (Knoxville): Large urban greenspace popular with hikers; nearby neighbourhoods often appeal to outdoors-minded buyers.

East Tennessee School Scene

Education in this area runs through Knox County Schools and Hamilton County Schools, which cover much of East Tennessee. School assignments are address-specific and can change as new campuses open, so always confirm zones using each district’s official boundary lookup before you buy.

• Elementary school: Most addresses feed into a nearby neighbourhood elementary within Knox County Schools or Hamilton County Schools, with zones drawn street by street.
• Middle School: Each home is tied to a specific middle school, and those lines can shift over time, so it is worth double-checking the current map for your address.
• High school: High school options vary by part of East Tennessee; use the district lookup tools to see which campus serves a property and then dig into its programmes, sports, and test scores.

Understanding Knoxville, TN Crime & Safety

If you are considering a move to Knoxville, it is worth taking a close look at the safety statistics.

• Violent Crime Rate: Approximately 8.42 incidents per 1,000 residents (source: Knoxville Police Department).
• Property Crime Rate: Approximately 39.08 incidents per 1,000 residents (source: Knoxville Police Department).

Citywide averages blend very different neighbourhoods and commercial corridors. Many suburban towns and rural pockets in East Tennessee post noticeably lower incident levels. Property offenses, including vehicle break-ins, porch thefts, and burglaries, make up the larger share and are often opportunistic. Violent-crime patterns are best evaluated block by block, so review tract-level maps and speak with local patrol officers for the clearest picture of any specific street you are considering.

East Tennessee Real Estate: Buyer FAQs

How competitive is the market right now?

With an average DOM around 57 days, good listings still draw attention. See the strong ones early and have financing pre-approval ready so you can act quickly; properties with clear access and recent updates typically move faster.

What should I budget for property taxes?

Tennessee assesses residential property at 25% of appraised value. Effective county rates vary, with rough examples such as Knox County ≈ 0.65% and Hamilton County ≈ 0.73%. Factor assessment timing and revaluation cycles into your carry costs when comparing homes.

Are there special checks for mountain and lake properties? 

Yes, for mountain properties, verify road access and maintenance; for lakefront lots, confirm shoreline rules or TVA regulations. In both cases, review septic and water systems and any required permits before you buy.

When should I expect price reductions?

Price reductions most often appear after the initial listing weeks in slower seasons. Set up listing alerts for your target East Tennessee neighbourhoods so you can track week-one activity, monitor showings, and compare later price changes across your short list.